WELL, of course it finished 1-0 to the Albion.

That’s what they do.

However a path to their latest single-goal success, a seventh in the Northern Premier League this season, wasn’t a straightforward one.

Nor was it particularly exciting either.

But Will Jones was again decisive, stepping inside a recovering Grantham defender’s sliding challenge with one touch before steering the ball past goalkeeper Sam Andrew with his next one.

There was eight minutes left and, as they had done seven days earlier when Scarborough Athletic were in town, Carl Macauley’s men made their followers wait to celebrate a decisive moment.

It delivered a sixth win from their past eight Premier Division matches, a run of results that has propelled them into the table’s top 10.

There is no talk, at least not yet, of a promotion play-offs push.

For now the manager just wants to enjoy an upturn in fortune for his side, disrupted again by injuries when Anthony Gardner and James Foley both limped off, at the end of a campaign of hard graft.

He would probably have preferred to have been further in front against limited opponents and Rob Hopley sent an effort off-target with the goal at his mercy two minutes after Jones had broken through.

Substitute Matty Devine’s shot, after he had combined neatly with fellow replacement Tom Owens, had been diverted by a back-marker into his captain’s path.

There was another close call too in the seconds before Witton scored when Osebi Abadaki’s angled effort brushed a post on its way past while needing only a touch from a teammate to push it over the line.

It would be misleading thought to suggest Albion created a series of chances.

They were better than Grantham, certainly more incisive in challenging conditions with a strong wind and bobbly playing surface, and Jones was unlucky to see a volley dip too late shortly after half-time.

Billy Smart could not keep down a similar strike after collecting a loose ball at a corner.

The Gingerbreads, beaten in four of their previous five away games, were rebuffed by a defence that saw on-loan teenager Luke Offord occupy both full-back roles for spells in another assured performance.

Michael Tweed wriggled into a shooting space inside Albion’s penalty area only for Josh Wardle, quick as a flash, to block his powerful drive.

There was fleeting concern too when Greg Hall, Witton’s custodian, looked as though he had spilled Danny Brookes’ deflected free-kick after stopping it low to his right.

However an opponent was judged by referee Ben Wyatt to have fouled him as he tried to smother the ball.

There had been next to nothing of note to report during the first-half save for Danny McKenna, leaning back as he made contact, sending a shot high from close-range after Hopley teed him up.

If it felt probable Grantham would get nil, the only doubt was whether Witton could net their one.

Jones, again, delivered.

Witton | 4-4-2 | Hall (GK), Gardner (Devine 24), Humphreys, Wardle, Offord, McKenna (Owens 72), Smart, Foley (Cesaire 80), Abadaki, Hopley, Jones Subs not used Wynne, Neild (GK) Goal Jones 82 Booked Humphreys (dissent)

Grantham | 4-2-3-1 | Andrew (GK), Barrows, Ward, Cartwright, Bartle, Tweed, Brooks (Hogg 85), McGovern (Kelly 89), Dawson, Adebayo-Smith (Jackson 74), Francis Subs not used Briers, Smith Booked Ward (foul), Francis (retaliation)

Referee Ben Wyatt

Attendance 288